Die forming machine



HVHLtlVItN i5, MAKING, ShAHCH H001 4 W 1940- H. c. RICKENBACH 2,221,881

DIE FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1938 IMPLEMENTS, MAKlNG,

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES DLAHLH HUUIV PATENT OFFICE DIE FORMING MACHINE Harry 0. Rickenbaeh, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application October 15, 1938, Serial No. 235,227

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a machine for making or forming metal dies embodying letters. numerals, and various designs, and adapted to be transferred by punching or stamping operations.

Important objects and advantages of the in-; vention are to provide an apparatus of the character described, which will facilitate and expedite metal die making, which will produce sharp, clear designs, which effects the die forming operations by vibratory movements imparted thereto by an oscillating rocker arm, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and eflicient in its use, positive in its action, and economical in its manufacture and operation.

To the accomplishment of these and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a die forming machine constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are, respectively, top plan and end views thereof.

Figures 4 and 5 are inner end views of the die block and operating head, respectively.

Referring in detail to the drawing I denotes a thick, heavy and solidly constructed frame in-- cluding a detachable end member 2, which is rigidly secured thereto by bolts 3. The frame is supported on suitable legs 4, and is oblong, rectangularly-shaped, and has a large, corresponding shaped opening 5, which is disposed vertically and extends in the longitudinal direction.

A heavy, substantially rectangularly-shaped die block 6 is mounted in the opening 5 of the frame I adjacent to the end of the latter provided with the removable end member 2. The die block is supported and longitudinally slldable in the frame opening, by a pair of longitudinally extending, substantially V-shaped supporting ribs I, which are formed on respective sides of the die block and extending throughout the length of the latter. The supporting ribs engage in a nally in respective side walls of the frame open- A feed screw 9, horizontally disposed and iongitudinally aligned with the frame I, has a swivelled connection with the outer end of the die block 6, and is threadedly engaged in the frame end member 2. A large hand wheel III is fixed to the free end of the feed screw for operating the latter to advance or retract the die block in the frame opening 5.

The inner end of the die block 6 is provided with a pocket II for receiving the clamping jaws I2, which are of any suitable construction to secure the blank I 3, to be formed, during the forming operation. The clamping jaws are secured or released by the engagement of a looking screw I4 threadedly engaged in the die block.

An operating head I5 is mounted in the frame opening 5 in opposed relation to the inner end of the die block 6. The operating head is cradled, to allow the slight vibratory rocking movement thereof, in a heavy bearing block I6. The latter has a slotted inner end, is rigidly secured or held against movement in the frame opening, outwardly of the operating head, in any suitable manner.

The inner face of the operating head I5 is provided with a pocket I! for receiving the clamping Jaws I8, which are of any suitable construction to secure the master die or matrix I9, from which the design is transferred to the blank I3, during the forming operation. The clamping jaws I8 are secured or released by the engagement of a locking screw 20 threadedly engaged in the operating head.

The operating head I5 carries an elongated, integrally-formed or otherwise fixed, rocker arm 2I, which depends therefrom through the slotted inner end of the bearing block I6 and projects below the frame I. A cam link 22 is formed at the lower free end of the rocker arm for the reception of a comparatively small, circular actuating cam 23. The latter is eccentrically fixed to the end of the shaft 24 of an electric motor 25, or other prime mover providing the power for operating the machine.

As the periphery of the cam 23 engages in the cam link 22, and the former is eccentrically fixed to the motor shaft 24, as stated, the rotation of said cam in the cam link by the operation of the motor 25, will obviously impart an oscillating movement, in the rearward and forward longitudinal direction, to the rocker arm 2I. Such oscillatory movement of the-rocker arm will in turn impart a slight oscillatory movement in the vertical direction to the inner face of the operating head l5 and to the matrix l9 fixed in the latter. It is apparent that the length of the rocker arm and the diameter of the actuating cam are factors determining the relative extent of the oscillatory movements of said rocker arm and said matrix. The involved dimensions of these latter elements are consequently such as to best meet requirements in efficiently effecting the die forming operations. It is, of course, apparent that like movement may be imparted to the matrix with other types of mechanical drive arrangements without departing from the spirit of the invention. In practice the operation of my improved die forming apparatus is as follows: The matrix H, provided with the design to be formed, is fixed in the clamping jaws l8 of the operating head l5, and the blank I3, on which the design is to be formed, is fixed in the clamping jaws l2 of the die block 6. The matrix I9 and the blank l3 are directly opposed to and aligned with each other. This completes the setting up of the device preparatory to effecting the die forming operation.

The motor is now operated to actuate the operating head 15 and matrix [9, as stated, and the feed screw 9 is operated to shift the die block 6 in the frame opening 5 to force the face of the blank l3 against the face of the matrix with very great pressure. The action and rapidity of the vibratory, vertically oscillating movements of the actuated matrix, combined with the constant tremendous pressure of the blank against the matrix, will speedily cause the latter to forcibly work its way into the blank, whereby the design on the matrix will be formed on the engaged end of the blank in clear, sharp, well-defined lines, to complete the die forming 40 operation.

The feature of the present invention resides particularly in the described vibratory, oscillatory movements of the matrix employed for effecting the die forming operations. Analogous 45 devices now in use, commonly employ a knuckling,

circulatory matrix movement, well known in the art to which the invention appertains, to form dies. However, my improved apparatus, employ ing vibratory, oscillating movements of the matrix, in the manner set forth, provides a most efllcient manufacturing process for facilitating and expediting the construction of superior die products.

What I claim is:

A die forming apparatus comprising the combination of a frame including a detachable end member and being provided with a longitudinally extending opening, a pair of longitudinally extending v-shaped guide grooves formed in respective side walls of said opening, a bearing block having a slotted inner end mounted in and rigidly secured at one end of said opening, an operating head carrying a matrix bearing the design to be formed loosely cradled in said bearing block to allow vibratory rocking movement thereof, a die block mounted at the other end of said opening and carrying a blank member to receive the design to be formed at a position opposed to said matrix, a pair of V-shaped ribs formed at respective sides of said die block and extending throughout the length of the latter and engaging in said grooves for supporting said die block in said frame and to allow the longitudinal slidable movement of said die block in said opening, a feed screw having a screw thread ,of said arm, and power-operated means including a cam engaged in said link for oscillating said arm to actuate said operating head and said matrix while said block member is being forced against the latter to effect the die forming operation.

HARRY C. RICKENBACH. 

